HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - Mail Packet - 7/19/2022 - Memorandum From Teresa Roche Re: Materials For July 18 Council Compensation Committee Meeting
Human Resources Department
215 N. Mason, 2nd Floor
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221.6535
DATE: July 14, 2022
TO: Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Teresa Roche, Human Resources
RE: Materials for July 18 Council Compensation Committee Meeting
_____________________________________________________________________
Best thoughts to each of you.
Attached to this memo are:
• The agenda for the July 18, 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm Zoom meeting for the Council
Compensation Committee meeting.
• The draft minutes from the May 24 Compensation Committee meeting; this document
was sent on June 16, and I am including it again for easy reference. The June 21
Committee meeting was canceled.
If you have any questions, please let me know.
TR
Human Resources
215 N. Mason Street
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221.6535
AGENDA
Compensation Policy Committee
July 18, 2022, 3:30 p.m. MDT
Zoom Meeting
+1 720 928 9299 Call In
Meeting ID: 924 6972 2781
https://fcgov.zoom.us/j/92469722781
This information is available in Spanish or other language at no cost to
a person who would like this information translated to or
communicated in Spanish or other language. Please call 416-4254 or
email titlesix@fcgov.com to make a request for information in other
languages.
Esta información está disponible en español u otro idioma, sin costo
para la persona que le gustaría esta información traducida o
comunicada en español u otro idioma. Favor llame al 416-4254 o
envíe un correo electrónico a titlesix@fcgov.com para solicitar
información en otros idiomas.
Auxiliary aids and services are available for persons with disabilities.
TTY: please use 711 to call 970.416.4254.
Committee Members:
Councilmember Susan Gutowsky, District 1
Councilmember Julie Pignataro, District 2, Chair
Councilmember Shirley Peel, District 4
City Staff Members:
Teresa Roche, Human Resources Executive
Carrie Daggett, City Attorney
Kelley Vodden, Director, Total Compensation
Melanie Clark, Executive Administrative Assistant
• Call Meeting to Order
• Approve Minutes from May 24, 2022
• Discussion Items:
o Performance Management Process for Council
Appointed Employees—please see the next page for
discussion questions.
Annual Evaluations on 11/22/22
o Schedule of Future Topics and Timing of Meetings
• Adjournment
Next Meeting: August 15, 2022
Past Meeting Topics
• December 2021: Committee Identifies
2022 Schedule of Topics and Meeting
Cadence
• January 2022: Highlights from Child
Care Benefits Exploration Study
• February 2022: Discuss updated
analysis on Council Pay and Benefits
• March 2022: Review of the
performance management process for
Council appointed employees
• April 2022: Review updated Council
pay and benefits analysis
• May 24: Cost of Living Analysis
Upcoming Meeting Topics
• 2022: Possible Budget assumptions on
Compensation and Benefits; Internal
compensation analysis, pay equity
study, total compensation market
analysis for Council appointed
employees, childcare benefit BFO offer.
Bike Rack Issues
• Council onboarding 2023
There are three or more members of the City Council that will likely attend this meeting. Formal action may
be taken by the Committee at this meeting and the discussion of public business will occur. Therefore, the
meeting is open to the public.
2
Based on our dialogue earlier this year, we will return to this topic as the annual evaluations are scheduled for
November 22, 2022, and decisions about the process need to be made by mid-September to ensure all unfolds
well.
Julie and I met to review the agenda and we discussed working with the committee to find a way to navigate
what needs to remain the same for the employees and what needs to transform to reflect this Council’s
intentions. The last committee codified the process in the current Council Resource Guide and we need to
update it to reflect current thinking.
Questions will include:
1)Frequency and timeline of performance discussions in 2023.
2)Use of a facilitator to interview the Council and write the annual performance summaries for two or all
three employees.
3)What interview questions should be asked for the annual evaluations by the facilitator?
4)What materials should the employees prepare for the mid-year and annual evaluations?
5)What else do Councilmembers need to evaluate the performance of your employees and coach and
develop them?
6)Development session for Council on how to give feedback and develop and engage your employees.
7)Use of a facilitator for the evaluation sessions in November.
8)Market analysis of the employees’ pay ranges and discussion of merit increases—new ways to do this
part of the process?
9)How to onboard new Councilmembers in 2023?
Compensation Policy Committee
May 24, 2022, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Meeting Minutes
Members in attendance: Councilmember Susan Gutowsky; Councilmember Shirley Peel; Councilmember
Julie Pignataro, Chair
Other Councilmembers in attendance: Councilmember Kelly Ohlson
Staff in attendance: Kelly DiMartino, Interim City Manager; Teresa Roche, Human Resources; Carrie
Daggett, City Attorney; Kelley Vodden, Director of Compensation, Benefits and Wellness; Melanie Clark,
Executive Administrative Assistant; Wendy Bricher, Finance Analyst and Steve Engemoen, Senior
Compensation Analyst.
External presenter: Brian Wilkerson, hrQ
The Compensation Policy Committee (Committee) meeting was virtually held on May 24, 2022, through a
Zoom webinar.
Agenda
• Call Meeting to Order
• Approve Minutes from April 18, 2022
• Discussion Items:
o 401(a) Third Cycle Restated Adoption Agreement at CFC on 6/2 and Council
Resolution on 6/21
o Review hrQ Presentation on Cost-of-Living Analysis Findings
o May 24 Work Session on council pay
• Adjournment
Next Meeting: June 21, 2022 (Cancelled)
The meeting began at 3:31 p.m.
Teresa Roche explained that on the last page of the minutes, a clarification was added to note that
Councilmember Shirley Peel’s question was about Colorado Springs.
Councilmember Shirley Peel motioned to approve the minutes as amended. Councilmember Susan
Gutowsky seconded the motion. Minutes were approved.
401(a) Third Cycle Restated Adoption Agreement at CFC on 6/2 and Council Resolution on 6/21
Teresa shared that there will be a resolution on consent for adopting an IRS regulation that requires the
City’s 401(a) retirement plan be restated every six years. This restatement will be referred to as the third
cycle restatement. Teresa explained that it is being done to incorporate all legislative and regulatory laws
since the last one, the Pension Protection Act Statement. This administrative item needs to take place and
does not impact any costs to the City.
hrQ Presentation on Cost-of-Living Analysis Findings
Brian Wilkerson, hrQ, shared the Cost-of-Living Analysis Summary of Findings.
Several components were considered in the Cost-of-Living analysis in Fort Collins, including goods, housing,
utilities, etc. Overall, the prices of goods and services in Fort Collins are at the national average. When
broken down by category, the data showed that housing had increased over 30% more than the national
average. Brian explained that the availability of inventory and how quickly it moves off the market further
complicate the housing market.
More significant increases in rental housing were seen from 2017 to 2022 for all housing sizes than from
2012 to 2017. Efficiencies and 1-bedroom units have more than doubled in rental costs; all other bedroom
sizes increased between 85-99% over the last ten years.
HUD recommends that people spend no more than 40% of their income before taxes on rent. To lease a
two-bedroom home, a person would need an annual income of $44,580. Three-bedroom and above single-
family home rents are higher than $2,100 per month; attached home rents range from $1,380 for a one-
bedroom to $2,080 for four bedrooms.
Brian explained that housing is one of the biggest drivers of perceptions of quality of life and the cost of
living. When people need to live further away from work, commute times go up, and commute satisfaction
goes down, which is another significant driver for cost-of-living satisfaction. He further explained that once
people start to believe that their children will not be able to afford to live in the city they currently do, it
tends to increase the concerns around housing significantly. In addition, if people moved into Fort Collins
several years ago at a different stage of life, they often begin considering why their earnings have not kept
up with the ability to buy a similar kind of housing stock when they start having a family.
Childcare costs are another driver in cost-of-living. 85% of parents spend 10% or more of their household
income on childcare. 59% of families planned on spending more than $10,000 on childcare in 2021. COVID-
19 greatly impacted the childcare industry, with many providers closing and fewer people working in the
field.
Brian explained that it is also essential to look at the overall impact of inflation. In the past year, shelter has
gone up 4.8%, but in the past ten years, it’s gone up 43.8%. Area prices for the West Region, including
several states, specifically Colorado, have gone up 0.9% over the past month and up 7.7% from a year ago.
This was the largest over-the-year increase since June 1982. Also, 13.2% of Colorado residents have some
student debt affecting their spending capability.
Brian explained when looking at things such as employment and compensation strategies, it is important to
consider the concept of a living wage which is the required annual income after taxes, necessary for an
employee to meet their basic needs. The goal of a living wage is to allow an employee to afford a basic but
decent standard of living through employment without government subsidies.
Teresa Roche shared that Larimer County is looking into the living wage to help them determine salaries in
the future. She also shared that the information shared by Brian confirms Council priorities and shapes
some of the 2023-2024 BFO offers. She indicated that City leaders are in the early stages of considering
creative and innovative solutions to attract and retain talent and that she will be sharing this analysis with
key partners in the community.
May 24 Work Session on Council Pay
Councilmember Julie Pignataro explained that the April conversations about Council pay did not come to
any conclusions yet. Considering the timeline for full Council review and discussion for a ballot initiative,
she had directed staff to bring the topic to the May 24 work session.
Kelly Ohlson suggested that Councilmembers get paid 50% or about $33,000 per year, Mayor Pro Tem
would receive 60%, and Mayor would receive 75% of the Average Median Income (AMI) or whatever an
appropriate income level is beginning in 2023. In the interests of equity, he believes that healthcare should
be provided to Councilmembers. Kelly suggests this information be laid out along with Council’s roles and
responsibilities.
Kelly Ohlson pointed out that the statement that Council pay changes would only affect Councilmembers
that stand for re-election is inaccurate. He clarified that it would only affect the next Council when
Councilmembers set the compensation. He further explained that this Council’s compensation is in the
charter requiring a public vote and would affect all Councilmembers.
Julie Pignataro asked for clarification on the 50%, 60%, and 75% and how Kelly came up with those
numbers. Kelly believes being on Council is an essential job, with some members having outside
employment. He explained that Councilmembers spend at least 20 hours a week on Council duties which is
equal to a half-time job of the area median income for one person in a household.
Councilmember Susan Gutowsky stated there had been significant conversation about medical benefits.
Teresa Roche shared that the Council could consider providing health-related benefits consistent with what
is offered to employees.
Kelly Ohlson stated that he is coming from a place of equity and would like to see more people be able to
serve on Council in the future. He reiterated that the public would be voting yay or nay.
Brian Wilkerson stated that in all the research they have done, the universal advice they received was that
if Council was going to bring forward the topic of compensation to the public, it should be coupled with a
discussion of expectations and responsibilities.
Councilmember Shirley Peel asked Teresa if Councilmembers would have access to COBRA after their
coverage ended, and Teresa confirmed they would be eligible.
Susan Gutowsky expressed support for an increase and wondered if the suggested amounts were
reasonable, and Shirley Peel wondered about the timing.
Kelly Ohlson shared that there have been several times in the past where the timing was not the best, but
the public voted in favor. He believes that people have a way of sorting these things out.
The meeting adjourned at 4:42 p.m.